Elevator card transporting mechanism for a printer

A card transport mechanism for transporting a card past a printing apparatus within a printer, comprising:

• a first elevator mechanism for displacing the card from a first level to a second level, said first elevator mechanism includes means for rotating the card;
• a translating mechanism disposed at the second level and having a receiving end disposed adjacent the first elevator mechanism for receiving the card therefrom and an output end, said translating mechanism including means for moving the card from the receiving end to the output end thereof along a direction that is generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the first elevator mechanism;
• and
• a second elevator mechanism disposed adjacent the output end of the translating mechanism for receiving the card from the output end and displacing the card from the second level to a third level.

A card transport mechanism for transporting a card past a printing apparatus within a printer, comprising:

• a first elevator mechanism for displacing the card from a first level to a second level;
• a translating mechanism disposed at the second level and having a receiving end disposed adjacent the first elevator mechanism for receiving the card therefrom and an output end, said translating mechanism including means for moving the card from the receiving end to the output end thereof along a direction that is generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the first elevator mechanism, wherein the means for moving includes a rotatable belt extending between the receiving end and the output end, said rotatable belt being engageable with the card to thereby move the card from the receiving end to the output end;
• and
• a second elevator mechanism disposed adjacent the output end of the translating mechanism for receiving the card from the output end and displacing the card from the second level to a third level.

A card transport mechanism for transporting a card past a printing apparatus within a printer, comprising:

• a first elevator mechanism for displacing the card from a first level to a second level;
• a translating mechanism disposed at the second level and having a receiving end disposed adjacent the first elevator mechanism for receiving the card therefrom and an output end, said translating mechanism including means for moving the card from the receiving end to the output end thereof along a direction that is generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the first elevator mechanism, wherein the translating mechanism is pivotally mounted;
• and
• a second elevator mechanism disposed adjacent the output end of the translating mechanism for receiving the card from the output end and displacing the card from the second level to a third level.

A printer comprising:

• a printing apparatus;
• and
• a transport mechanism for transporting a card past the printing apparatus, the transport mechanism including a first elevator mechanism disposed adjacent one side of the printing apparatus for displacing the card from a first level to a second level, said second level being spaced above the top of the printing apparatus;
• a translating mechanism disposed at the second level and having a receiving end disposed adjacent the first elevator mechanism for receiving the card therefrom and an output end at an opposite side of the printing apparatus, said translating mechanism further including means for moving the card from the receiving end to the output end thereof along a direction that is generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the first elevator mechanism;
• and a second elevator mechanism disposed adjacent the opposite side of the printing apparatus at the output end of the translating mechanism for receiving the card from the output end and displacing the card from the second level to a third level.

A method of transporting a card past a printing apparatus within a printer, comprising:

• providing a first elevator mechanism adjacent to one side of the printing apparatus, a translating mechanism having a receiving end receiving the card from the first elevator mechanism and having an output end spaced from the receiving end, and a second elevator mechanism adjacent to an opposite side of the printing apparatus receiving the card from the output end of the translating mechanism;
• displacing the card from a first level to a second level spaced above the top of the printing apparatus using the first elevator mechanism;
• moving the card from one side of the printer apparatus to the opposite side thereof using the translating mechanism;
• and
• displacing the card from the second level to a third level using the second elevator mechanism.